973.7L63 
DH25a 

cop.  3 

Hart,  F.W. 

Abraham  Lincoln  The  Great  Commoner 
The  Sublime  Emancipator 


LINCOLN  ROOM 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


MEMORIAL 

the  Class  of  1901 

founded  by 

HARLAN  HOYT  HORNER 

and 

HENRIETTA  CALHOUN  HORNER 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 

The  Qreat  Commoner 

The  Sublime  Emancipator 


By  COL.  F.  W.  HART 
1926 


Price  10  Cents 


Col    F.  W.  Hart 


This  is  a  copy  of  the  concluding  chapter  of  my 
Lincoln  biography,  which  I  hope  to  have  published 
in  the  near  future  and  ready  for  sale.  This  folder 
containing  an  account  of  the  last  hours  of  the  Presi- 
dent's life  and  the  incidents  of  his  foul  assassination 
will  be  left  at  the  drug  and  book  stores  of  our  city 
for  sale  at  ten  cents,  with  the  understanding  that 
the  purchaser  can  have  his  money  refunded,  if  he 
desires,  by  returning  the  folder  within  a  week  from 
the  date  of  sale. 

F.  W.  Hart 
Huntingjron  Park,_Caiif. 


2  — 


Abraham  Lincoln 


By 
COL.  F.  W.  HART 


The  Assassination  of  the  President. 


Assassination     of     the    President 

The  five  days  following  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  were  the  happiest  of 
all  days  to  the  loyal  people  of 
America;  for  the  black  war  cloud 
had  passed  away,  peace  had  been 
restored,  and  all  were  rejoicing 
over  the  glorious  consummation. 
President  Lincoln  and  his  cabinet 
were  happy  in  the  consciousness 
of  work  well  done,  also  in  the 
added  thought  that  at  last,  the 
great  rebellion  had  been  crushed 
and  the  conquest  of  the  nation's 
foes  had  been  effected.  But  on  the 
night  of  the  fifth  day,  April  14th, 
the  joy  of  the  whole  earth  was 
changed  to  mourning,  for  that 
night  witnessed  the  saddest,  or  one 
of  the  saddest  tragedies  ever 
known  or  written,  in  all  the  pages 
of  recorded  history,  the  assassina- 
tion of  the  great  and  beloved  war- 
President.  Of  this,  I  will  speak 
later. 

The  burdens  of  the  long  war  had 
worn  heavily  on  the  President,  so 
much  so  as  to  be  observable  to  all; 
and  one  day  he  was  heard  to  say: 
"I  think  I  shall  never  be  glad 
again,"  but  the  reception  of  the 
good  news  from  the  front  on  the 
9th  had  wrought  a  wonderful 
change  in  his  looks  and  general 
appearance.  Indeed,  a  marvelous 
transformation  was  shortly  appar- 
ent. 

Hon.  James  Harlan  of  Iowa,  a 
member  of  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate, and  afterwards,  of  the  cabi- 
net,   in    speaking   of    Mr.    Lincoln 


during  those  happy  memorable 
days,  says:  "His  whole  appear- 
ance, poise  and  bearing  had  marv- 
ellously changed.  He  was  in  fact 
transformed.'' 

He  goes  on  to  say  that  his  in- 
describable sadness  formerly  ap- 
parent "had  been  suddenly 
changed  to  an  equally  indescriba- 
ble expression  of  serene  joy,  as  if 
conscious  that  the  great  purpose 
of  his  life  had  been  achieved.'" 

On  the  day  in  which  the  news 
of  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox 
was  received,  the  cabinet  meeting 
was  held  an  hour  earlier  than 
usual.  Neither  the  President  nor 
any  member  of  the  cabinet  was 
able  for  a  time,  so  a  writer  says, 
to  give  utterance  to  his  feelings. 
"At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
they  all  dropped  on  their  knees 
and  offered,  in  silence  and  in  tears, 
their  humble  and  heart-felt  ack- 
nowledgements to  the  Almighty 
for  the  triumph  He  had  granted 
to    the   national   cause." 

Mr.    Lincoln's    Last    Speech 

Of  the  many  notable  and  mem- 
orable addresses  delivered  by  Mr. 
Lincoln  during  his  eventful  ca- 
reer, the  following  was  his  last. 
On  Tuesday  evening,  April  11th, 
'65,  he  was  serenaded  at  the  White 
House,  and  this  was  his  response: 

"Fellow  Citizens:  We  meet  this 
evening  not  in  sorrow,  but  in  glad- 
ness of  heart.  The  evacuation  of 
Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  the 
surrender  of  the  principal  insurg- 
ent  army  give   hopes   of   a  right- 


3  — 


eous  and  speedy  peace  whose  joy- 
ous expression  cannot  be  restrained. 
In  the  midst  of  this,  however, 
He  from  Whom  all  blessings  flow 
must  not  be  forgotten.  A  call  for 
a  national  thanskgiving  is  being 
prepared  and  will  be  duly  promul- 
gated. Nor  must  those  whose 
harder  part  gives  us  the  cause  of 
rejoicing  be  overlooked.  Their 
honors  must  not  be  parceled  out 
with  the  others.  I  myself  was  near 
the  front  (  He  had  just  visited  and 
returned  from  Richmond)  and  had 
the  high  pleasure  of  transmitting 
much  of  the  good  news  to  you; 
but  no  part  of  the  honor,  for  plan 
or  execution  is  mine.  To  General 
Grant,  his  skillful  officers  and 
brave  men,  all  belongs.  The  gal- 
lant navy  stood  ready,  but  was  not 
in  reach  to  take  active  part.  By 
these  recent  successes,  the  re-in- 
auguration of  national  authority, 
reconstruction,,  which  has  had  a 
large  share  of  thought  from  the 
first,  is  pressed  much  more  closely 
upon  our  attention.  It  is  fraught 
with  great  difficulty." 

He  speaks  further  of  the  em- 
barrassment necessarily  attending 
the  solution  of  such  national  prob- 
lems, and  then  closes  by  saying: 
"In  the  present  situation,  as  the 
phrase  goes,  it  may  be  my  duty  to 
make  some  new  announcement  to 
the  people  of  the  South,  I  am  con- 
sidering, and  shall  not  fail  to  act, 
when  satisfied  that  action  will  be 
proper." 

Before  retiring  from  the  crowd, 
the  President  requested  the  sere- 
nading band  to  play  "Dixie,"  say- 
ing, "we  have  a  right  to  that  tune 
now."  Little  did  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
the  admiring  multitude  think  that 
would  be  his  last  address;  but  such 
it  proved  to  be. 


That   Fatal   Day,    Good   Friday 

Throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  there  was  one 
jubilant  cry,  on  April  14th,  1865,, 
and  that  was  "The  war  is  over." 

The  air  was  vibrant  with  the 
spirit  of  universal  rejoicing;  and 
it  is  said  by  his  friends  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  never  seemed  to  be  more 
glad,  more  serene  than  he  did  on 
that  day,  the  14th  of  April.  All 
nature  seemed  to  combine  to  make 
things  lovely.  The  warm,  balmy 
air,  of  that  spring  morning,  fra- 
grant with  the  odor  of  blossoming 
trees  and  shrubs  along  the  hill- 
side and  fringing  the  Potomac,  in 
the  gardens  and  city  parks,  was 
delightfully  refreshing.  The  pre- 
vailing good  cheer  of  the  White 
House  was  enhanced  that  morn- 
ing by  the  presence  at  the  break- 
fast table  of  the  President's  oldest 
son,  Captain  Robert  T.  Lincoln, 
an  aide  de  camp  of  General  Grant's 
staff,  who  had  arrived  from  the 
front  that  morning.  The  import- 
ant events  of  the  Wilderness  cam- 
paign, with  the  closing  scenes 
thereof  were  doubtless  discussed, 
with  absorbing  interest,  by  father 
and  son. 

The  President's  heart  was  furth- 
er delighted  by  the  early  arrival  of 
General  Grant,  that  morning.  The 
purpose  of  the  General's  call  this 
time  was  not  to  discuss  new  plans 
for  the  further  prosecution  of  the 
war,  as  on  former  occasions,  but 
to  talk  of  peace,  and  the  unbound- 
ed cheer  and  delight  it  would  bring 
to  the  people — to  all  the  people. 

The  cabinet  convened  early  in 
the  morning,  Friday  being  the  reg- 
ular day  for  such  meeting,  and 
General  Grant  was  invited  to  re- 
main at  the  session. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  at 


—  4 


this  time,  General  Joe  Johnstone 
had  not  surrendered  to  General 
Sherman  (thought  he  did  shortly 
afterwards)  and  intense  interest 
centered  in  General  Sherman's 
movements.  General  Grant  was 
questioned  as  to  his  convictions 
regarding  the  probable  outcome. 
He  was  optimistic  in  his  thought 
and  expressed  the  opinion  that 
Johnstone's  capitulation  would  be 
only  a  matter  of  a  few  days,  which 
proved  true. 

Much  of  the  time  at  the  meet- 
ing was  consumed  in  the  discus- 
sion of  the  question  and  policy  of 
reconstruction,  which  naturally 
would  soon  come  to  the   fore. 

The  President  took  this,  the  first 
opportunity,  to  express  himself  as 
opposed  to  any  policy  or  act  of 
vindictiveness  or  revenge  towards 
the  people  of  the  South. 

He  had  agreed  with  General 
Grant,  all  along,  that  a  complete 
conquest  or  suppression  of  the  re- 
bellion was  the  only  policy  to  be 
pursued,  if  a  restoration  of  peace 
was  ever  attained.  But  now,  as 
the  South  was  conquered,  it  was 
not  wise  or  necessary  to  add  to 
their  humiliation. 

The  President  further  remarked 
that  "He  hoped  there  would  be  no 
persecution,  no  bloody  work,  after 
the  war  was  over." 

He  further  stated  that  "We  must 
extinguish  our  resentment  if  we 
expect  harmony  and  union."  It 
was  his  desire  that  a  feeling  of 
goo.i  will  and  cooperation  with  the 
Soutn  should  be  encouraged. 

These  were  the  impulses  of  his 
noble  heart  and  generous  nature. 

Many  entertained  the  opinion 
then  and  since  (and  the  writer 
concurs  therein)  that  if  President 
Lincoln   had   survived,      the   long, 


bitter,  acrimonious  debates  in  Con- 
gress, during  the  years  of  recon- 
struction would  have  been  avoided. 

The  cabinet  meeting  having  ad- 
journed, and  the  lunch  having  been 
served,  the  President  suggested  to 
Mrs.  Lincoln  that  they  take  an  af- 
ternoon drive.  He  dispensed  with 
the  services  of  a  coachman,  evi- 
dently wishing  that  no  one  should 
accompany  them,  that  they  might 
the  better  enjoy  the  converse 
alone. 

"Mary,"  said  he,  "we  have  had  a 
hard  time  of  it  since  coming  to 
Washington,  but  the  war  is  over, 
and  with  God's  blessing  we  may 
hope  for  four  years  of  peace  and 
happiness  and  then  we  will  go 
back  to  Illinois  and  pass  the  rest 
of  our  lives  in  quiet." 

He  also  spoke  of  his  Springfield 
home,  the  incidents  of  his  early 
days,  the  law  office,  the  cottage 
in  which  their  four  children  were 
born,  etc.,  thus  throwing  off  the 
tension  of  war  days,  and  enjoying 
once  more,  in  anticipation,  the 
scenes  of  their  early  life  in  their 
far-off  prairie  home. 

"We  have  laid  up  some  money," 
he  continued,  "and  during  this 
term  we  will  try  and  save  up  some 
more." 

He  admitted,  however,  that  he 
might  not  have  enough  to  support 
them  comfortably,  in  which  event 
he  might  open  a  law  office  in 
Springfield  or  Chicago,  and  thus 
earn  enough  to  afford  them  a  live- 
lihood during  their  declining  years. 
On  their  return  from  their 
drive,  the  President  met  a  number 
of  his  friends,  one  of  the  number 
being  an  old  time  associate,  Gov- 
ernor Richard  Oglesby,  of  Illinois. 
During  the  afternoon,  the  Presi- 
dent performed  two  acts  of  mercy, 


5  — 


one  of  them  being  the  pardon  of 
a  deserted  soldier,  sentenced  to  be 
shot,  saying  as  he  did  so.  "The  boy 
can  do  more  good  above  the 
ground  than  under  ground." 

The  other  act  was  his  approval 
of  an  application  for  discharge  of 
a  Rebel  prisoner,  on  his  taking  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  on  whose  peti- 
tion he  wrote,  "Let  it  be  done." 

Previously,  a  theater  party  for 
that  evening  had  been  made  up  by 
the  Mistress  of  the  White  House, 
and  General  and  Mrs.  Grant 
were  to  be  her  guests.  They  were 
to  see  Laura  Keene  at  Ford's 
Theatre,  in  "Our  American  Cou- 
sin. "  The  box  had  been  secured 
early  in  the  day,  and  a  large  num- 
ber arranged  to  attend,  m  antici- 
pation of  seeing  the  presidential 
party  and  seeing  the  "Hero  of 
Appomattox."  The  manager  of 
the  Theatre  had  given  extended 
publicity  in  the  afternoon  papers 
that  the  "President  and  his  lady" 
together  with  "General  and  Mrs. 
Grant"  would  be  present  that 
evening  to  attend  Miss  Keene's 
benefit. 

It  was  ascertained  late  in  the 
afternoon  that  General  Gram  and 
lady  had  changed  their  plan  and 
had  decided  to  go  North  that  night. 
This  occasioned  great  disappoint- 
ment all  around,  and  some  one, 
perhaps  the  President,  suggested 
that  the  party  be  given  up;  but 
lest  the  public  be  disappointed  the 
President  thought  it  best  to  keep 
the  engagement.  A  couple  of 
young  friends  were  then  invited  to 
take  the  place  of  General  and 
Mrs.  Grant,  which  invitation  was 
glady  accepted. 

The  President  met  Speaker  Col- 
fax that  afternoon  and  cordially 
invited  him  to  accompany  him  and 


Mrs.  Lincoln  to  the  theater  that 
night,  but  owing  to  a  previous  en- 
gagement to  start  west  that  night, 
Mr.  Colfax  had  to  decline. 

The  Presidential  party  was  a 
little  late  getting  started;  and 
then  shaking  hands  with  a  few 
friends,  he  accompanied  Mrs.  Lin- 
coln to  the  carriage,  and  were 
driven  off  quickly  to  the  theater. 
It  is  said  that  the  President  and 
party  arrived  about  the  middle  of 
the  first  act  and  were  received  with 
hearty  applause.  The  band  played 
"Hail  to  the  Chief"  and  all  eyes 
were  turned  to  the  distinguished 
guests  occupying  the  box. 

A  large  arm  chair  was  placed  to 
the  front  and  left  for  the  Presi- 
dent's use,  which  on  arrival,  he 
occupied,  Mrs.  Lincoln  taking  a 
chair  to  his  right.  The  accom- 
panying guests  occupied  seats  in 
the  rear. 

About  the  middle  of  the  third 
act,  a  foul  assassin  in  the  person 
of  John  Wilkes  Booth  approached 
stealthily  from  the  rear  and  sent 
a  builet  crashing  through  the  brain 
of  the  great  President.  He  leap- 
ed "rom  the  stage,  flourishing  a 
dagger,  having  dropped  his  revol- 
ver trying  "Sic  semper  tyrannis" 
J'-us  be  it  always  to  tyrants. 

In  his  descent  from  the  stage 
Booth's  spur  caught  in  the  flag, 
which  brought  him  to  the  floor, 
fracturing  a  bone  in  his  left  leg. 
This  seemed  to  be  providential, 
for  by  this  accident,  his  flight  was 
impeded  and  his  escape  made  im- 
possible. 

He  disappeared  through  a  rear 
door,  and  hastened  to  his  horse 
that  he  left  in  the  alley,  and 
mounting  quickly,  rode  rapidly 
away.  At  the  President's  box,  all 
was    in    commotion.      The    shrieks 


—  6  — 


and  moans  of  Mrs.  Lincoln  could 
be  heard  above  the  din,  and  were 
heart  rending.  The  President  was 
seen  to  partially  rise  after  the 
shot;  but  sank  back  in  his  seat,  by- 
help  of  an  attendant,  his  head 
falling  on  his  breast. 

A  few  soldiers  improvised  a 
stretcher  and  placing  the  limp,  un- 
conscious form  thereon,  bore  him 
tenderly  across  the  street  to  a  pri- 
vate home.  One  of  these  soldiers 
told  me  of  this  sad  incident,  many 
years  thereafter.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments, several  army  surgeons  were 
by  his  bedside  and  did  all  that 
mortal  men  could  do  to  resuscitate 
their  distinguished  patient;  but  in 
vain.  Around  his  bedside  stood 
several  of  his  friends,  including 
Judge  Wm.  T.  Otto,  an  old  time 
acquaintance  and  friend,  holding 
his  hand,  also,  Attorney  General 
Speed,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Gurney,  the 
President's  pastor  while  in  Wash- 
ington. 

One  writer  speaks  of  the  scene 
and  surroundings  with  much 
pathos,  as  follows:  "Leaning 
against  the  wall,  stood  Secretary 
Stanton,  who  gazed  now  and  then 
at  the  dying  man's  face,  and  who 
seemed  overwhelmed  with  emotion. 
From  time  to  time,  he  wrote  tele- 
grams or  gave  orders,  which,  in 
the  midst  of  the  crisis,  assured  the 
preservation  of  peace." 

I  think  all  the  remaining  mem- 
bers of  the  cabinet  (except  Secre- 
tary Seward,  who  had  been  as- 
saulted by  a  would-be  assassin  the 
same  night)  were  present,  and 
several  Senators,  as  well,  pacing  up 
and  down  the  corridor. 

At  last,  about  seven-thirty  in  the 
morning  of  April  15,  the  surgeon 
announced  that  death  was  near, 
and  a  few  minutes  later,  the  pulse 


ceased  to  beat.  The  dying  man 
never  regained  consciousness  from 
the  moment  he  received  the  fatal 
shot. 

It  is  said  that  "Mr.  Stanton  ap- 
proached the  bed,  closed  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's eyes,  and  drawing  the  sheet 
over  the  dead  man's  head,  uttered 
these  words  in  a  very  low  voice : 

"He  is  the  man  for  the  ages." 

The  news  of  the  sad  tragedy  was 
flashed  over  the  country  that  day, 
almost   paralyzing  the   people. 

Never  had  the  nation  been  con- 
vulsed in  such  deep  mourning;  sor- 
row, like  a  funeral  pall,  brooded 
over  and  settled  down  on  the  peo- 
ple. I  had  returned  from  the  army 
and  re-entered  college.  No  more 
study  or  recitations  that  day.  The 
old  college  bell  seemed  to  peal  out 
the  solmen  words,  "Lincoln's  dead, 
Lincoln's  dead." 

All  business  was  suspended.  Men 
gathered  in  groups  to  discuss  the 
sad  news,  while  others  passed  each 
other  in  silence,  the  weeping  eye, 
the  falling  tear  indicating  the  sor- 
row of  heart  within.  Old  men  and 
women,  alike,  would  meet  and 
weep  like  children. 

Never  was  a  public  man  held  in 
such  endearing  relationship.  Even 
the  picture  of  the  martyred  Presi- 
dent on  the  wall  was  sufficient  to 
evoke  expressions  of  sorrow,  often 
mingled  with  tears.  At  Washington 
the  President's  remains  lay  in 
state  in  the  capitol  for  a  few  days, 
viewed  by  a  large  number  of  sor- 
rowing citizens,  when  the  funeral 
train,  with  its  precious  freight,  the 
bereaved  widow  and  family  and  a 
few  friends,  including  Bishop 
Simpson,  commenced  its  long  and 
mournful  journey  from  Washing- 
ton to  Springfield,  111.  This  was 
done    that    the    dear    form    might 


7  — 


have  its  last  resting  place,  near  his 
former  home,  amid  the  scenes  of 
his  early  struggles  and  triumphs, 
surrounded  by  those  he  had  loved 
and  served  so  well.  In  going  to 
Springfield,  the  train  took  the 
same  route  that  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
family  had  taken  in  coming  to 
Washington,  four  years  before. 
Thus,  they  passed  through  Balti- 
more, Philadelphia,  New  York,  Al- 
bany, thence  westward  through 
Syracuse,  Rochester,  Buffalo, 
Cleveland,  Chicago,  to  Springfield. 

Through  all  that  journey,  in 
every  city,  hamlet  and  town, 
through  which  they  passed  sor- 
rowing citizens  in  large  numbers 
turned  out  to  pay  a  tribute  of  love 
to  their  fallen  chieftain. 

At  Springfield,  a  vast  concourse 
of  people  had  assembled  to  show 
their  appreciation  of  their  former 
distinguished  citizen  and  be  pres- 
ent at  the  last  sad  rites. 

At  the  memorial  services,  Bish- 
op Simpson,  the  eloquent  Method- 
ist Divine,  a  warm,  personal  friend 
of  the  late  President,  delivered  an 
able  and  impressive  funeral  ora- 
tion. In  closing,  he  expressed  the 
hope  that  the  spirit  and  mantel  of 


the  great  Elijah  (Lincoln)  might 
fall  on  the  young  Elisha  (Robert) 
and  then  invoking  the  blessing  of 
the  Father  of  all  mercies  upon  our 
stricken  country,  upon  the  deeply 
bereaved  family  and  upon  the 
large  assemblage  then  present,  he 
closed.  Loving  hands  then  bore 
the  precious  form  to  its  last  rest- 
ing place,  where  it  will  remain  in 
quiet,  undisturbed  slumber  till  the 
morn  of  eternity's  dawn  shall 
awake  him  to  an  eternal  day. 

What  inspiration  and  hope  to  the 
young  men  of  America  is  thus 
afforded  by  the  life  and  character 
of  this  great  man. 

Without  early  training,  in  due 
time  he  became  self-educated,  as- 
pired to  and  became  a  great  law- 
yer, an  eloquent  speaker,  and  an 
eminent  statesman.  By  his  un- 
aided aspiration,  without  political 
influence,  he  carved  his  way  from 
the  lowest  position  to  the  highest, 
in  the  gift  of  the  people,  and  hav- 
ing reached  the  summit  at  last, 
"From  the  topmost  round  of 
fame's  ladder,  he  stepped  to  the 
skies." 

THE  END 


—  8  — 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

973.7L63DH25A  C003 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  :  THE  ASSASSINATION  OF  T 


3  0112  031807412 


